The archaeologist who excavated the Neolithic monument at Fourknocks in the 1950s was remembered with great praise at the launch in Drogheda on Sunday of a book about the monument written by Anthony Murphy, the first to be written since the excavations.

P J (Patrick) Hartnett worked for two years on the site which is 10 miles southeast of Newgrange between Ardcath and the Naul and on Sunday his daughter Brenda McMahon, along with the Mayor of Drogheda Cllr Paddy McQuillan helped launch “Fourknocks Archaeology, Astronomy and Mythology” by Anthony Murphy, at a reception in the Highlanes Gallery.

The work of volunteers Margaret White and the late Fintan White, near neighbours of the monument, who have been custodians of the key to Fourknocks, was also praised at the launch.

The Mayor quipped that for someone so young (50), Drogheda man Anthony Murphy had a string of achievements behind him– “He’s a, journalist, historian, photographer, member of Drogheda Brass Band, tour guide, volunteer, mythological expert, runs the Mythological Ireland website, and is the author of ten books” he said, adding “his work is so important in understanding the heritage of the area”.

Brenda McMahon said that there had been wonderful advances in archaeology, especially with the introduction of more women. “There were very few opportunities for women in that work in the 1950s and 1960s” she said.

Although she hadn’t inherited the archaeological “gene” from her father, Brenda remembered being brought down the country on “archaeological weekends” - something she wasn’t that keen on. Her only regret was that she had not worked on Fourknocks with her father. By the time she took an interest in those things, it was too late.

She said she had gone into Fourknocks about ten years ago and “it was a beautiful place that was surreal and tranquil and, when you got used to the darkness, was a magnificent place”.

Anthony Murphy said it was no exaggeration to describe Fourknocks as one of the most important prehistoric monuments in the Western hemisphere. He said he felt indebted to Paddy Hartnett and all his colleagues in the various disciplines of archaeology, anthropology, geology, genetics.

“When people like me sit down to write a book about Fourknocks we are literally standing on the shoulders of giants. We are indebted, thoroughly and completely, to their magnificence, and for the slow, methodical and effective way in which they went about their work”.

“The regret with P J Hartnett was that he did not live a long life, Anthony Murphy said, he was a bright star who could have shone a lot brighter, given that chance. “Nonetheless, I hope that the book has done some service to his memory.”